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Month: January 2010

The emerging U.S. military strategy for Africa stresses partnership over direct intervention. In other words, we team up with African armies, boost their training and equipment, then let them handle their continent’s security problems themselves. It’s a proxy approach.

Continuation from last post on U.S. Military engagement in Africa, especially Africa Command.

Like this:

Ever since the creation of African Command, the U.S. has been steadily increasing its presence across the continent diplomatically and military due to the increased importance it holds to the U.S.

Major General William Garrett, commander of U.S. Army Africa recently stated that

AFRICOM and U.S. Army Africa focus and apply resources based on policy guidance from the U.S. government. Currently, the top five priorities for U.S. government engagement in Africa are: supporting strong and stable democracies and good governance; fostering sustained economic growth and development; strengthening public health; preventing, mitigating, and resolving armed conflict; and helping to address transnational challenges.

When applying resources, AFRICOM and U.S. Army Africa work shoulder-to-shoulder with our military and non-military partners as part of a larger U.S. and international effort. This comprehensive approach is the best way to prevent the challenges that you mention in your question.

Last October the US had its biggest military exercise to date which aimed to build trust and confront common challenges on the continent. East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi each sent up to 150 soldiers to join 450 US military personnel in Kitgum, Northern Uganda. Recently

The deputy commander of U.S. naval forces in Africa says he hopes to expand the Navy’s Africa Partnership Station program to involve other U.S. military services.

Admiral Harry Harris says as the U.S. Army, Marine Corps and Air Force components for Africa Command become more structured, he hopes they will join the Navy’s effort to help build the military capacities of African nations. The admiral told reporters at the Pentagon Tuesday most of the current Africa Partnership Station effort is focused on African naval capabilities, although he said U.S. and partner-nation Navy personnel do some training and construction on land.

He says adding the Army, Marines and Air Force troops would expand the training program, but not change its basic philosophy. “We want to help African nations help themselves solve African problems,” said Admiral Harris. “And we don’t go in unless we’re invited, and we go in with a spirit of full collaboration and partnering with African nations, as well as other countries.”

Admiral Harris notes that about 20 countries have participated in the Africa Partnership Station program since it began in 2007, including several European countries and Brazil, as well as about 10 African countries. This year, the program will involve efforts in East, West and Southern Africa, but the admiral says there is so far no plan to expand to Northern Africa.

The Navy program trains African forces in such skills as search and rescue, hostile ship boarding, small boat operations and ship maintenance. This year’s West Africa program will include a Nigerian Naval officer as its deputy commander.

Admiral Harris is new to his post, but he says Africa Command is finding much more receptiveness among African nations than it did when it was formed two years ago, and many nations were suspicious of its intentions.”

And for the conspiracy minds out there: all your base don’t belong to us.

We are not building bases in Africa,” he said. “We’re not doing those things that the naysayers suggested that we would. Quite the opposite, I believe we’re living up to our promise of being a true partner.

Here is a discussion of Africa Command last July at the World Affairs council.